I’m driving the 2013 Ford Escape in Brookline, Mass., and I’m hopelessly lost. Two vehicles at the event, and I pick the one without a navigation system.

Ford is introducing the redesigned Escape this fall in a marketing campaign that you won’t be able to miss if you watch network TV or use social media. It’s a big push because it’s a big market. Ford’s research shows the typical Escape buyer is in the market for a midsize sedan or a small sports utility vehicle. And Ward’s Automotive said 60 percent of the increase in auto sales for the next model year will be in mid size cars and small SUVs, so the stakes are huge. It happens that Ford is rolling out a new Escape and a new midsize Fusion within months of each other. Small SUVs make up about 7.5 percent of the total market, according to Ward’s.

I’ve been attending an event sponsored by Ford to introduce the new vehicle to bloggers and journalists outside the typical automotive press. It’s me and an automotive racing blogger, and three women who write about parenting. Part of the event is letting us drive around the neighborhood. That may have been a mistake.

The new Escape uses a design that has been on the market in Europe since 2008 and sold as the Kuga. One of the strategies Ford has employed under the management of CEO and President Alan Mulally has been the sharing of platforms for cars worldwide. No longer can American drivers complain the cars sold in this country were not as interesting or fun to drive as similar models in Europe since they share up to 90 percent of parts.

The launch has not been entirely smooth. Three recalls were announced over the summer during the first 60 days of production. The first recall was to fix the spacing for the brake and accelerator pedals. Two came in quick succession to fix manufacturing mistakes that could have led to fires in the engine compartment. The recall for faulty fuel lines was serious enough for Ford to request that owners stop driving the vehicle and for the company to offer a tow and a rental car while the Escape was repaired. Michael Murphy, Ford’s Global C Car marketing manager, said the company caught the problems early in production because of the strong communication between the engineering, sales and marketing teams. He said the company is not satisfied until all the faulty Escapes are fixed and this month will be contacting — by phone and mail — the remaining owners who have not brought their vehicles in for repair.

It’s my own fault I’m lost. I was given a map, but in this section of town, there are only winding roads and odd intersections. That and REALLY expensive houses on narrow streets. Even the “For Sale” signs look custom made. And given the choice of looking at the road or the map, I’ll take the road. The Escape is taking it in stride. The new model is far more sleek looking than the boxy one it replaces.

Ford hopes this Escape meets or exceeds the sales figures of the last one, which went on sale in 2000. The main competitors include the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Chevrolet Equinox.

Ford hopes one way to differentiate the Escape from its competitors will be by ramping up the tech. High on that list is the rear lift gate, which you can open by waving your foot under the bumper. Hands full, key in your pocket? Move your foot and the gate swings up so you can load your parcels without putting them down someplace. The other option that will impress your neighbors is the park assist — press a button, then drive slowly along the street while the sensors look for a space where the vehicle will fit. The system will tell you where to stop and when to engage Reverse and then Drive. The wheel moves by itself as you control the gas and brakes. The Escape slides into the space and you look like a parking hero.

There are three things to remember about driving in Massachusetts. Traffic rotaries demand full attention; The cross streets generally don’t have street signs, so you can tell the road you are on but not the one you are crossing; and in the Boston area, Boylston Street will lead you to where you want to be. I just found Boylston and survived a rotary. OK, it was a small one and I was one of two cars in it. Give me a break, I’m new here.

The small truck, the platform is from the same family as the new Focus, also has My Key. My Key allows the main driver to set limits on acceleration, radio volume and more, based on which key is used to start the Escape. So if your teenager is prone to drive fast with the radio too loud, you can end the practice. There’s also a 110 volt outlet. Order the option for a wifi hotspot and bring your mobile device and share your data plan. The vehicle also can be ordered with My Ford Touch and My Sync that controls communication and entertainment functions.

It’s a nice car to drive even under current circumstances, with good acceleration, controls, front visibility. The view out of the back can be limited at some angles, and there is a reflection in the windows of the trim around the air conditioning vent on the dash that bugs me. Overall the interior has an upscale feel, but it may be busy for some tastes. Given the time I have it roughly corresponds to the time of a test drive the Escape is likely to make a good first impression.

Ford is pushing the environmental aspect to the Escape. In an effort to reduce fuel consumption the V6 engine no longer an option. The model with front wheel drive and the four cylinder 1.6L engine is EPA rated at 33 mpg highway, The same engine with four wheel drive gets 30 mpg highway. The other engines are an EcoBoost 2.0L four cylinder for trailer towing. The third engine is a 2.5L without the Ecoboost. The EcoBoost engine family is designed to achieve better fuel economy by using a turbo, direct fuel injection and other features to provide the same power as an engine about one-third bigger.

I’m behind the wheel of the SEL version, which Ford says will be the most popular model. It’s well equipped with a six speed automatic transmission, the only one available, your typical power locks, windows and air conditioning. The vehicle itself is very smooth. Under the hood is the smallest power plant available, a 1.6L Ecoboost engine, a decent performer -- no rock your socks acceleration but no slowpoke either.

Ford touts the fact the SUV can be 85 percent recycled at the end of its useful life. There is 10 pounds of sound-deadening material under the dash made of old blue jeans and sweaters. The carpet for each Escape is made with 25 old soda bottles. Ford said the seat foam is made with soy oil, which reduces CO2 emissions and uses less petroleum to manufacture

The Escape enters the market with strong competitors, some new like the Honda CR-V and Mazda 5, some at the end of their current generation. Ford hopes this vehicle is on the top of the list.

Now I’m out of the residential area, and parked on a quiet side street (no chance to use the park assist, unfortunately.) I pull out my smart phone and Google the address for the event: Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St., Brookline. Once that is into the phone, I head off hoping the folks running the event don’t think I’ve absconded with their black SUV. I finally recognize a street name on the map. That leads to a corner with buildings I recognize. Within a minute, I get back to the site of the event. The Ford folks just thought I was being thorough in my drive.